Railroad spreader



J. C. FORBES ET AL Sept. i0, 1935.

RAILROAD SPREADER 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1934 llLLrilL ?IIP @manSept- 10, 1935 J. c. FORBES ET AL 2 Sheet Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE RAILROAD sPREADER Application May 19, 1934, SerialNo. 726,464

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in railroad spreaders and itconsists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

The rails in track, even on different branches of the same railroad,often vary in height from a minimum of about 41/2" to a maximum of about7".

In railroad spreaders having a vertical adjustable front plow asheretofore made, the lowest limit to which the plow could be adjustedwith respect to the ties, was about 21/2 below the top of the rail. Thisamount of movement was limited by the rail shoe which is associated withthe rail opening in the cutter shoe, carried by the plow.

It is desired in passing over new ballast deposited in track, to bringthe plow as close as possible to the top of the ties, as thiseliminnates much shoveling work. It is apparent that in spreadingballast in a track where high rails are employed, when the plow could beadjusted to only 21/2" below the top of the rail, a considerable body ofballast was left in track and required hand removal, which it is desiredto avoid.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a cutter shoeand rail shoe arrangement in a railroad spreader, wherein a range ofadjustment is provided between the said shoes, to accommodate closeworking-oi the plow with respect to the ties, regardless of the heightof rail found in track.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cutter and rail shoestructure wherein the rail shoe may be quickly and easily adjustedvertically of the cutter shoe.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a structure of thiskind where the cutter shoe and the rail shoe have interengaging parts,so that the rail shoe may be removed horizontally forward from oneposition on the cutter shoes, and replaced in an opposite manner ineither a higher or lower position and then securely locked in the newposition, the said interengaging parts amply resisting the upward thrustmet with in use.

'Ihe above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others,together with the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as weproceed with our specication.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the front plow of arailroad spreader embodying our improved cutter and rail shoeconstruction and shows the plow in its lowermost position to bring thecutter shoe into its lowest working position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the cutter and rail shoes in adifferent position.

Fig. 3' is a horizontal detail sectional View on 5 an enlarged scalethrough a part of the irnproved shoe structure as taken on the line 3 3of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical detail sectional view through the improved shoestructure as taken on the line 10 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in front elevation on an enlarged scale ofa part of the rail shoe and associated part of the cutter shoe, showinga further changed position of 'the rail shoe with 15 respect to thecutter shoe.

In general, the invention as shown herein includes a front plow somounted with respect to the spreader as a whole, as to be movable from aposition wherein the plow cutter shoe is above 2.@

and clear of the rail tops for transport purpose, to one wherein theplow cutter shoe is in that lowered position which spreads and evens thenew ballast to the desired level. The plow and its cutter shoes areV-shaped in plan and as the spreader progresses along the track, thecutter shoe operates to even the ballast to the desired level. Thedivergence of the sections of the plow, naturally causes a movement ofthe excess ballast between rails, laterally and over the rails with 30 awave action, onto the tie ends. To keep the rails clean for movement ofthe spreader as a whole, upon the rails, there are mounted on the cuttershoe one above each rail, an auxiliary shoe that may be adjusted withrespect to the top of the rail to clean the rail tops of the ballastpiled upon them. This last mentioned shoe is termed a rail shoe todistinguishd it from the cutter shoe upon which it is mounted.

The structure while described as used in connection with ballastspreading operation, is also useful in snow and ice removal, so that ofcourse, it is not d-esired to limit the structure to one for ballast useonly.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention, illustratedin the accompanying drawings:

I indicates, as a whole, the front plow of a railroad spreader which maybe mounted with respect to the front end structure 2 of the spreader asto be adjusted vertically of the same, to an extent substantiallyequalling the highest rail found in railroad practice. Th-e plowconsists of a pair of laterally and rearwardly diverging plow sections 3and secured to bottom end of the front 55' `outside or tie end cuttingshoe I'I.

face of each section is a cutter shoe section 4. Preferably the cuttershoe section has a boltedon, removable connection with its associatedplow section.

At a point above each rail, the associated cutter shoe is provided witha downwardly facing, rail accommodating recess 5. Spaced laterally fromeach side of said recess is a vertical row of apertured ears 6,separated by spaces 'I. That part of the cutter shoe between said rowsof ears provides a way 8 (see Fig. 2) to receive a rail shoe 9.

Each rail shoe which is substantially in the form of a plate, includes abody I0, provided at each side with a vertical row of apertured ears IIseparated by spaces I2. The ears of the two shoes are so proportionedthat they t in the spaces 'I between the ears 6 of the associated cuttershoe and the ears of the latter fit in the spac-es I2 between the earson the rail shoe.

W'hen a rail shoe is in position in its way on the cutter shoe, a pin I3may be inserted through the ears of the cutter and rail shoes to securethe rail shoe in position.

Each rail shoe is provided at the bottom on its front side with aplow-like projection I4 and is also provided at the bottom on its rearside with a horizontal extension I5. The front end of the bottom surfaceof the projection I4 is curved upwardly better to engage the top of arail and push oi such material as may be upon the same. The extension isso proportioned in width with respect to the sides of the associatedrail recess 5 as to limit the uppermost position of the rail shoe in itsway. Thus when the said projection engages the top of the associatedrecess, it is assured that the top edge of the rail shoe cannot projectabove the top edge of the cutter shoe.

The bottom portion of each cutter shoe, inwardly of the associated railaccommodating recess is turned forwardly as a blunt cutting edge I6. Thesaid bottom portion of each cutter shoe outwardly of the said rec-ess isprovided with an This tie end cutting shoe is preferably made as aseparate element to have a bolted-on removable attachment to the cuttershoe Il.

Assume that it is desired to position the cutter shoe edge I6 as closeas possible to the ties of the track. The pins I3 are removed from theinterengaged ears G and II and the rail shoes are removed in a forwardlydirection. The plow I may now be lowered to bring the edge I6 of thecutter shoe into the desired working position with respect to the ties.After the cutter bars have been thus positioned, the rail shoes arereplaced with the ears II disposed in those spaces 'I between the cuttershoe ears, as will bring th-e bottom surface of each rail shoe in aposition closely adjacent the top of the associated rail. The pins I3are then replaced and this locks the rail shoe in place.

Due to the upward curvature of the front end of the bottom surface ofeach rail shoe, it is apparent that such ballast material that flowsover the associated rail as the spreader moves forward, will tend toexert a heavy upward pressure on the rail shoe. Because of theinterengaging ear arrangement between the cutter shoes and rail shoe,the upward lift or pressure on the rail shoe is amply resisted by a widedistribution of pressure through said ears so that no single ear isrequired to withstand the pressure exerted.

By the arrangement described, the rail shoes may be quickly adjusted toaccommodate that position of the cutter shoe at which it is desired towork. Furthermore by means of the structure described, it is possible toaccommodate a wider range of adjustment of the cutter shoe.

When the spreader is in transport from one place of use to another, theplow is elevated to that position wherein the edge I5 of its cuttershoes clears the top of the rails. To give a maximum of clearance abovethe rails, the rail shoe may be removed and then replaced in its 10topmost position wherein the top edge of the rail shoe is substantiallyflush with the top of the cutter shoe.

By reason of the structure described, whereby the rail shoe is removedforwardly for adjust- 15 ment, it is impossible for such material as mayaccumulate back of the rail shoe, operating to bind or jam the shoe in amanner preventing the easy adjustment of the rail shoe. This is apparentbecause the removal of the rail shoe for 20 adjustment will dislodgesuch material as may have accumulated behind the rail shoe.

The construction described may be easily manufactured at low cost. It issimple to operate for its intended purpose and permits of an adl5justment of the cutter shoe into all desired working positions.

While in describing the invention, we have referred in detail to theform, arrangement and construction of the parts thereof, the same is not30 to be considered by way of limitation as said form, arrangement andconstruction may vary without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Furthermore, while in describing the inven- 30 tion, we have set forthits use in ballast spreading operations, we do not wish to limitourselves thereto as it may also be used for the removal of snow and icefrom between and from on the top of the rails.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a railroad spreader, a front plow, shoes, one for each rail of thetrack, and means for mounting said shoes for vertical adjustment on saidplow toward and away from the associated 45 rail.

2. In a railroad spreader, a front plow, shoes, one for each rail of thetrack, means enabling removal of the shoes from the plow in a directionparallel with the rail and replacement there- 50 of in a similardirection at a different elevation on the plow.

3. In a railroad spreader, a front plow, shoes, one for each rail of thetrack, means enabling removal of each shoe from one position on the 55plow in a forward direction and its replacement in another position onthe plow in a rearward direction.

4. In a railroad spreader, a front plow, shoes, one for each rail of thetrack, means enabling 60 removal of each shoe from one position on theplow in a forward direction and its replacement in another position onthe plow in a rearward direction, and means for securing the shoeagainst accidental displacement from the last mentioned position.

5. In a railroad spreader, a front plow, a cutter shoe thereon, othershoes, one for each rail mounted on the cutter shoe for movement towardand away from an associated rail.

6. In a railroad spreader, a front plow, a cutter shoe thereon, othershoes, one for each rail, a guideway on the cutter shoe for anassociated rail shoe, and means whereby the said shoe may be arranged indifferent adjusted positions in said guideway.

'7. In a railroad spreader, a, front plow, cutter shoes thereon, othershoes, one for each rail, and means on the side portions of each railshoe and on the cutter shoe respectively, providing for a guidedadjustment of the rail shoes on the cutter shoe.

8. In a railroad spreader, a front plow, cutter shoes thereon, railshoes and interengageable parts on the side portions of said rail shoesand on the cutter shoes respectively, whereby the rail shoes may beengaged at the desired elevation on the cutter shoes.

9. In a railroad spreader, a front plow, cutter shoes thereon, aplurality of sets of vertically aligned ears on said cutter shoes withspaces between the ears, and a rail shoe having ears at each sidethereof adapted to be engaged in the spaces between the ears of thecutter shoes to position the rail shoe at the desired elevation on thecutter shoe.

10. In a railroad spreader, a front plow, cutter shoes thereon, aplurality of sets of vertically aligned ears on said cutter shoes withspaces between the ears, a rail shoe having ears at each side thereofadapted to be engaged in the spaces between the ears of the cutter shoesto position the rail shoe at the desired elevation on the cutter shoe,and means inserted through said ears to prevent displacement of the railshoes.

1l. In a railroad spreader, a front plow, a rail shoe mounted forvertical adjustment thereon and having a forwardly extending lip at thebottom formed with an upwardly and forwardly curved bottom surface.

12. In a railroad spreader, a front plow, having a recess therein, arail shoe mounted for vertical adjustment on the plow forwardly of saidrecess, said shoe having a forwardly extending lip and a rear extensionportion arranged in the plane of the recess, the bottom of said lipbeing formed into an upwardly and forwardly curved bottom surface.

13. A rail shoe for a railroad spreader comprising a plate-like bodymember having a plurality of vertically spaced ears along each side andhaving a forwardly projecting portion at the front bottom portionprovided with bottom surface that extends upwardly and forwardly.

JAMES C. FORBES. STEVEN KRUSICH.

